Avignon Has a Side Most People Never See
The Bridge That Only Half Survived
The Pont Saint-Bénézet was built in the 12th century to span the Rhône River, connecting Avignon to the opposite bank. Of the original bridge, only four arches remain — the rest were destroyed by floods over the centuries. Those four surviving arches still reach out over the water with enough presence to convey what the full structure must have looked like. A small chapel dedicated to Saint Nicholas sits on one of the piers, and informative displays at the site explain the bridge’s construction and history. The Pont Saint-Bénézet is also the subject of a French folk song that most French schoolchildren learn, making it arguably the most famous bridge in the country despite being a fragment. The views of the Rhône, the city walls, and the palace from the bridge are some of the most photographed in Provence.
Roman Engineering 30 Minutes From the City
The Pont du Gard sits about 30 minutes by car from Avignon and represents a completely different era. Built around 60 AD, this Roman aqueduct spans the Gardon River on three tiers of arches and was part of a 50-kilometer water supply system that fed the Roman city of Nîmes. The engineering precision involved — the aqueduct drops only 17 meters over its entire length — remains impressive by any standard. Visitors can walk across the top of the structure and look down at the river below, or follow walking trails along the riverbanks that provide different perspectives on the arches. A visitor center on site provides context about how the aqueduct was designed and built without modern machinery. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the best-preserved Roman structures anywhere in Europe.
A Museum Inside an 18th-Century Mansion
The Musée Calvet occupies a well-preserved 18th-century mansion in Avignon’s historic center, and the building itself is part of the appeal. Elegant salons, ornate ceilings, and landscaped gardens frame a collection that spans from the Renaissance through the 20th century. The paintings and sculptures include works by Botticelli, Rembrandt, and Delacroix — not reproductions, but original pieces that rarely attract the crowds they would receive in Paris or Florence. Beyond the fine art, the museum holds archaeological artifacts including ancient Greek and Roman sculptures, pottery, and finds from the surrounding region. The combination of a genuinely distinguished collection and an unhurried visiting experience makes this one of the more underrated museums in southern France.
The Street Where Fabric Was Dyed for Centuries
Rue de Teinturiers translates as the Street of Dyers, and the name is accurate — this was once the center of Avignon’s textile dyeing industry, and the canal running alongside the street once powered the dyeing workshops. The waterwheels that remain along the canal are remnants of that working past, now surrounded by flowers and greenery rather than industrial activity. The street today is cobblestoned and lined with cafes, restaurants, and small boutiques. It runs along the canal with enough shade from overhanging trees to make it comfortable even in summer heat. In the evenings, the street becomes a gathering point for live music and outdoor dining, and the sound of water from the canal runs under the conversation at the tables. It is one of the more atmospheric corners of a city that has many.